Musical news for today comes in the form of a dreamy EP release by Desert Ships called Skyliner.
Desert Ships are composed of Mikey on vocals and guitar, Daniel on bass and vocals with Claude on drums and vocals and forming in 2012 then releasing their debut album Doll Skin Flag in the same year. The album, produced by acclaimed musician and producer Mark Gardener formerly of seminal shoegaze band Ride was met with huge critical acclaim.
Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records described the band as having “some great fucking songs” and Mark Gardener described his time working with Desert Ships as “a total pleasure, a total trip.”
The London based trip-tonic Desert Ships describe their sound as heavily cinematic. Haunting guitar loops and hypnotic grooves allow the dream-like melodies to weave in and amongst each other, while the three-part vocal harmonies bring a spacey, ambient tint to the eclectic mix. Comparisons have been drawn with the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala, and at times even the rousing film scores of John Barry. Lead singer Mikey describes the band’s music as “a reverb drenched apocalyptic experience”.
Desert Ships have played numerous festivals since the release of Doll Skin Flag, and toured with the likes of The Prodigy, Band of Skulls, Babyshambles and The Rifles as well as radio airplay from XFM's John Kennedy, BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq and BBC Radio London Calling's Gary Crowley. They consistently receive radio play on local stations in the UK, US, Europe and South America.
The Skyliner EP is trip-tastic and Desert Ships are psychedelic as you can get, kicking of with the shoegazy title track Skyliner which drifts dreamily into the excellent Shell Shock. They follow that up with Heart Beats which has shades of Rubberbear, before finishing with the more industrial and edgy Ausgang, my favourite on the EP and for me it's a 9/10.
Gigs
Sat 8th Nov
EP Launch: Cherry Cola club night at The Purple Turtle, Camden, London.
Having kept an eye on The Online Festival over these last good few months it's no surprise to me that Grimsby band Kismet Ryding would be on the verge of releasing an EP. It's called - 'Look.See.Don't.TRIP.' - has six tracks and it released on the 14th October and word on the street is you can get it on vinyl too!
Kismet Ryding are Mike Freeman - Vocals, Josh Humphreys - Guitar, Tom Humphreys - Bass and Jazz White - Drums.
Title track 'Look.See.Don't.TRIP.' is a 100 mile an hour rock 'n' rolla with thrashing guitar, crashing drums, thumping base and gritty vocal. It lulls you into a false sense of security half way through before grabbing you by the scruff and leading you into a frantic guitar riff. It's Tame Impala on speed.
'Last Night's Stains' is meaner, moodier and an old favourite of Ralph's. Great to see it on the EP. 'Good Good Way' lightens the mood with a hint of The Charlatans about it. 'Most Famous' get's moodier again with grim lyrics and a much more psychedelic feel. 'Coming Up' has a Kinks vocal feel but with Yardbirds guitar, a very Sixties vibe, whilst 'Hope and Glory' has a more 'shoegazy' feel to it.
Having formed Kismet Ryding nearly four years ago after Tom and Mike hit the town seeking their first musical venture on what would grow into the current band. They booked a gig, which they planned on playing a few acoustic tunes, and then had a jam with Josh and Jazz, unaware that the next time the four got together, song's would just flow out of them to make an 8 song set list!
The EP is a real coming of age for the group. Tight, well crafted but frenetic tracks that are designed to get any live audience jumping and a perfect foil for frontman Mike Freeman's in your face vocals. Keep your eyes open for gigs, 'cause this North East band is one to be savoured live and at full volume!
"Their sound is straight up, no nonsense brit-rock and when it works in their favour, Kismet Ryding possess quite a powerful live presence" - BBC Introducing.
